Posts tagged with "kian mahd soltani"

MORGAN RELEASES THREE WHEELED MODEL

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The model is the company’s first clean-sheet visual design since the Morgan Aero 8, which was launched in 2000

All-new model will be Morgan’s most configurable vehicle ever with an extensive array of accessories available at launch

The Morgan Motor Company has confirmed its all-new three-wheeled model will be launched on 24 February 2022. The new car marks Morgan’s first new design language and product ethos since the launch of the Aero range, which went on sale more than two decades ago.

Most details will remain undisclosed until the global unveil on 24 February. But Morgan has confirmed the use of a Ford three-cylinder engine for the upcoming model, continuing the long-standing use of Ford powerplants in the company’s line-up.

It will also be Morgan’s most customisable vehicle to date. Several identities of the model will be shown at launch, showcasing the diverse and versatile options available. They will highlight some of the personalities that have inspired its design, from bold, individual, and eccentric colours to fit-for-purpose adventure and motorsport-inspired mid-century racers.

Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, said: “The next chapter of Morgan’s three-wheeled story will begin on 24 February, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally show it to the world. The all-new model continues a 113 year legacy of three-wheeled Morgan cars, and – as has always been the case – the new model will be totally different to anything else.”

Jonathan Wells, Head of Design, Morgan Motor Company, said: “The energy and imagination that the design and engineering teams have invested into creating the all-new three-wheeled model is incredible. I am confident that this will be apparent through the sheer quantity of options, quality, performance and attention to detail.”

About Morgan Motor Company:

Morgan Motor Company is a British manufacturer of handcrafted sports cars, located in Malvern, Worcestershire, UK. The world-famous Morgan cars offer a unique blend of charisma, quality materials, craftsmanship and performance. Morgan has been handcrafting coach built traditional British sports cars that are thrilling to drive and unique within the marketplace since 1909. In March 2019, Investindustrial purchased a majority share of the company, and by doing so invested in the long-term future of the Morgan Motor Company building cars in Britain. The Morgan family, along with the senior management team and the wider workforce, retain a shareholding of the company and work alongside Investindustrial. Morgan produces around 850 vehicles annually, of which over 70% are exported. Its model range – comprising the Plus Four and Plus Six, and forthcoming three-wheeled product – is sold through more than 70 official dealerships in around 30 countries worldwide.

ELYANNA × BALTI

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Palestinian-Chilean singer and songwriter Elyanna releases her new single entitled “Ghareeb Alay” feat. Balti via Universal Arabic Music, with an accompanying music video. Born and raised in Nazareth and now living in Los Angeles, the rising songstress collaborates with the Tunisian singer and rapper on an entrancing track that fuses Arabic music with pop and R&B beats.

On the song, which translates to “Strange To Me” in English, Elyanna says, “‘Ghareeb Alay’ characterizes the story of a love song, but it’s much deeper than that. ‘Ghareeb Alay’ reflects change, around us and inside us. For Elyanna, as an immigrant, as an artist, and as a young female in the beginning of her journey. Everything and everyone feels new and strange. Ghareeb.”

Balti chimes in, saying, “‘Ghareeb Alay’ is one of the best songs I’ve ever worked on in my career. My collaboration with Elyanna adds a new artistic touch to the Pop Urban Arabic genre.”

Ghareeb Alay” is Elyanna’s first release under Universal Arabic Music and follows a string of previous releases, including her 2020 self-titled debut EP and breakout single “Ana Lahale” feat. Massari, which has over 14.5 million Spotify streams to date and 11 million video views. Not to mention, last fall, Elyanna was featured on fellow Universal Arabic Music artist Issam Alnajjar’s song “Hada Ghareeb”. Together, Elyanna and Issam are paving the way for a new generation of disruptive music arriving from the MENA region for fans around the world.

Amassing over 100 million global streams to date and receiving critical acclaim from Vogue Middle East, Cosmopolitan Middle East, GQ Middle East, and more, Elyanna has all eyes on her as she gears up to drop more music this spring.

ABOUT ELYANNA

No matter what lines, borders, or boundaries seemingly separate us, songs bring us back together. Elyanna unites listeners worldwide around a sizzling signature style steeped in Arabic music, pop, and R&B. Singing in Arabic and English, the Palestinian-Chilean singer, songwriter, and performer instantly enchants with soul and spirit. Growing up in Nazareth, she discovered her calling early on. At just six-years-old, she often donned her mom’s heels and black coat and performed in front of the mirror. One day, her mother and siblings caught her to which she responded, “You don’t even know what I’m capable of doing yet.” Soon after, the budding talent practiced daily with her older brother Feras who played piano and penned songs of his own. She regularly shut down talent shows and even practiced for photo shoots. At just 15-years-old, she landed on the radar of GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and MAGIC! frontman Nasri Atweh [Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Chris Brown]. Nasri introduced her to Lebanese-Canadian star Massari and powerhouse manager, SAL&CO Founder, and Universal Arabic Music C.E.O. Wassim “Sal” Slaiby. Following a series of buzzing releases, she made waves internationally with the self-titled Elyanna EP in 2020, boasting fan favorites such as “Ana Lahale” [with Massari], racking up 14.5 million Spotify streams. After amassing 100 million global streams and earning acclaim from Vogue Middle East, Cosmopolitan Middle East, GQ Middle East, and more, she perfects this vision on a series of singles and her forthcoming 2022 debut for Universal Arabic Music led by “Ghareeb Alay.”

HR Owen London Delivers Three Bugatti Supercars

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H.R. Owen Bugatti London gathers three Chiron Super Sport 300+ – 10% of the total production – before they’re delivered to customers

H.R. Owen Bugatti London is delivering three Chiron Super Sport 300+ models to its customers in January, representing 10% of the total limited production run.

The Chiron Super Sport 300+ was first revealed to the world in 2019 when it became the first car from a production manufacturer to break the 300mph barrier, recording a world record speed of 304.773mph, with Official Bugatti Test Pilot Andy Wallace behind the wheel. It was announced shortly after that just 30 examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ would be handcrafted and delivered to customers worldwide.

In order to achieve its world-record speed, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ received a number of meticulously engineered upgrades. Most obviously, its streamlined bodywork was redesigned to include a ‘longtail’, which helped maintain a smooth flow of air over the car to maintain stability at high speeds. The new shape, and a set of vertical exhaust pipes, allowed for a diffusor 32% larger, helping to further increase downforce.

The legendary 8.0-litre W16 engine was upgraded with reinforced pistons, larger turbochargers and an oil pump capable of operating at higher pressures, to deliver a total of 1,600PS – exactly 100PS more than Chiron.

The Chiron Super Sport 300+ is marked out by its unique paintwork. Compared with Super Sport, which shares a longtail body, the Super Sport 300+ is finished in black carbon fibre, complemented by a Jet Orange racing stripe running through the center of the car. Carbon continues to flow through into the car’s engine cover, and even the windscreen wiper.

Additional flourishes complete the 300+’s design, including a Bugatti “Macaron” logo made of genuine silver and black enamel, and strong magnesium alloy wheels finished in a bespoke colour named “Nocturne”.

The sold-out Chiron Super Sport 300+ vehicles are being built at Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France, each starting at a net price of 3.5 million euros.

H.R. Owen is the UK’s leading luxury motor dealer group, representing some of the world’s most sought-after brands including Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, BAC, Puritalia, Rimac and Radford.

About H.R. Owen

H.R. Owen is Britain’s leading luxury motor dealer group, dealing with some of the world’s most sought-after premium car brands – Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, BAC, Rimac and Puritalia.

The H.R. Owen Group not only operates in sales and service of premium luxury cars, but it also offers a number of related divisions across all brands including its Insurance Services.

The H.R. Owen flagship dealership, Jack Barclay, has been operating in Mayfair since 1927 and although traditionally just a London-based business, the company now has locations in five counties in addition to their six London showrooms – Cheltenham (Gloucestershire), Pangbourne (Berkshire), Byfleet (Surrey), St. Albans (Hertfordshire) as well as Stockport (Greater Manchester).

BEN FOLDS ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR DATES

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Ben Folds has announced additional 2022 dates for his “In Actual Person Live For Real Tour” of US solo piano and orchestral performances, kicking off April 1st, 2022 with a symphony concert at Powell Hall in St. Louis, MO, with additional shows to be added throughout the year. Folds, who spent much of 2020 and early 2021 in isolation in Australia because of COVID-19 lockdowns, returned to US stages in the Fall of 2021 to numerous sold-out performances.

In addition to a return to performing live in 2022, Folds is also working on his new album, continues to produce his podcast series called Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds, and is scheduled to begin taping a new TV series.

Tickets for the newly added 2022 dates go on sale to the public on Friday, January 21st. For complete details on upcoming show dates, please visit here.

BEN FOLDS “IN ACTUAL PERSON LIVE FOR REAL TOUR” 2022 DATES

APRIL

1 – St. Louis, MO – Powell Hall ^

2 – St. Louis, MO – Powell Hall ^

3 – Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre

5 – Omaha, NE – Holland Center

6 – Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall

9 – Miami, FL – North Beach Bandshell

10 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Event Center

11 – Orange Park, FL – Thrasher-Horne Center

13 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Gaillard Center

14 – Savannah, GA – District Live

15 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

21 – Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre

23 – Denver, CO – Boettcher Concert Hall ^

MAY

3 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre

4 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts

6 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre ^

JUNE

15 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall ^

17 – Santa Clarita, CA – Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center

18 – San Francisco, CA – Golden Gate Theatre *

19 – Chandler, AZ – Chandler Center for the Arts *

22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Hall ^

24 – Detroit, MI – Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel

26 – Nashville, TN – Brown County Music Center *

30 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center ^

JULY

1 – Nashville, TN – Shermerhorn Symphony Center ^

2 – Nashville, TN – Shermerhorn Symphony Center ^

AUGUST

26 – York, PA – Appell Center for the Performing Arts

27 – Bensalem, PA – XCite Center at Parx Casino

28 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall

* New Date Added

^ Symphony Date

ABOUT BEN FOLDS:

Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. He’s created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. His last album was a blend of pop songs and his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra that soared to #1 on both the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts.

For over a decade he’s performed with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, and currently serves as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

In addition to solo rock and orchestral touring, Folds released his first book – a collection of interrelated essays, anecdotes and lessons about art, life and music – in 2019, which debuted as a New York Times Best Seller, and is currently hosting a podcast series spinoff of his book entitled “Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds.”

An avid photographer, Folds is also a member of the prestigious Sony Artisans of Imagery, has worked as an assignment photo editor for National Geographic, and was featured in a mini-documentary by the Kennedy Center’s Digital Project on his photographic work.

An outspoken champion for arts education and music therapy funding in our nation’s public schools, has served for over five years as an active member of the distinguished Artist Committee of Americans For The Arts (AFTA), and serves on the Board of AFTA’s Arts Action Fund. He also served as Chairman of the Arts Action Fund’s ArtsVote2020 national initiative that encouraged voter engagement in the 2020 US elections, and continually advocates for improving public policies for the arts and arts education.

Monster Athletes Claim Medals

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Monster Energy’s Ski and Snowboard Athletes Claim Medals on Day 3 of X Games Aspen 2022

Monster Energy congratulates its team of freeski and snowboard athletes on claiming four medals (1 gold and 3 bronze) on the third and final day of X Games Aspen 2022 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado.

ASPEN, Colo., Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Another history-making edition of X Games Aspen is in the books! Monster Energy congratulates its team of freeski and snowboard athletes on claiming four medals (1 gold and 3 bronze) on the third and final day of X Games Aspen 2022 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado.

In the highly competitive Men’s Ski Slopestyle final, 23-year-old Monster Energy rider Alex Hall from Park City, Utah, posted a perfect run on his last attempt to walk away with the bronze medal. As the nighttime action kicked off with Wendy’s Ski Knuckle Huck, 24-year-old American Quinn Wolferman claimed gold by posting the most creative tricks in the jam session. Plus, all-round talent Alex Hall edged into bronze-medal position and became the first male winter sports athlete to take home medals in three contest events at the same X Games.

Rounding out an action-packed weekend, the Men’s Ski SuperPipe final saw 31-year-old Olympic freeskier David Wise from Reno, Nevada, take the bronze medal in an elite field.

The world’s biggest snow sports spectacle returned to Aspen in the heart of the Rocky Mountains for the 21st consecutive time this weekend. Started in 1997 at Snow Summit Resort in Big Bear Lake, California, the Winter X Games celebrated 25 years of showcasing the latest progression in snow sports this weekend.

Supported by Monster Energy as the official energy drink partner of X Games, the three-day spectacle featured Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard competitions in the disciplines of Slopestyle, Big Air, SuperPipe, and the innovative Knuckle Huck, alongside Special Olympics Unified competitions. As the pinnacle of winter action sports, X Games Aspen 2022 brought out 87 of the world’s best action sports athletes competing for a total of 42 medals across 14 disciplines.

The fans were also back on Buttermilk Mountain in full force! After allowing only athletes and staff the previous year, X Games Aspen 2022 welcomed spectators back to competition viewing and X Fest areas amid stringent COVID-19 safety protocols. This weekend featured fan activations, a festival village and DJ performances. ESPN and ABC broadcast 13.5 hours of live competition, with 7.5 additional hours streamed live on @XGames digital channels, and all 21 hours were live via the ESPN App.

Here’s how the action unfolded for team Monster Energy on the final day of X Games Aspen 2022:

Men’s Ski Slopestyle: Monster Energy’s Alex Hall Takes Bronze in Heated Finals

The final day of X Games Aspen 2022 started with a showdown for the history books: The Men’s Ski Slopestyle final featured ten of the world’s leading freeskiers, including five prior medalists in the disciple as well as defending champion Nick Goepper from Indiana. Countries represented in the final session included Canada, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In a 35-minute jam session, riders took turns trying to post the highest-scoring single run on the downhill obstacle course. Designed by expert snow shapers Snowpark Technologies, the course challenged riders with 15 different rail and jib obstacles at the top, plus a series of consecutive jumps that ended in a massive final jump also used in the weekend’s Big Air discipline.

Amid blue skies and favorable course conditions, the level of riding soon escalated with athletes such as Monster Energy’s James Woods posting perfect runs and next-level tricks. Other riders struggled to land the line they wanted, including 23-year-old Monster Energy rider Alex Hall from Park City, Utah. Although he was boosted by a sensational Ski Big Air win on the previous night, Hall had difficulty on the rails and found himself far outside podium position as the contest went into last attempts.

With only one run to go, Hall proved once again that he has the nerves and bag of tricks for down-to-the-wire situations. On the rails, he showcased his technical progression with a switch on gap 450 the cannon rail, 450 on 450 out, and Cab 270 pretzel 450 out. In the jump section, he put down a clean left double 1080 and an extremely difficult rightside double cork 900 pullback; technically a 1080-degree rotation but ‘pulled back’ 180 degrees in the opposite direction right before landing. On the final hit, Hall stomped a switch leftside 1800 in his signature Buick grab to finish in bronze-medal position. And he still had plans for Knuckle Huck!

Wendy’s Ski Knuckle Huck: Monster Energy’s Quinn Wolferman Claims Golden Knuckle, Alex Hall Takes Bronze as Third Medal at the Same X Games

The last nighttime segment of X Games Aspen 2022 kicked off with the Wendy’s Ski Knuckle Huck under the floodlights. In a 20-minute jam session, eight of the world’s best freeskiers ‘hucked’ their most technical and stylish moves off the Big Air jump ramp’s roll-over, also called the ‘knuckle’.

When the action got underway, 24-year-old Quinn Wolferman from Missoula, Montana, was looking to improve on finishing in third place at X Games Aspen 2021 and 2020. But with riders like previous gold medalist Colby Stevenson in the mix, it was a tall order.

But in a showcase of style and creativity, Wolferman convinced the judges to earn the coveted Knuckle Huck gold medal in the shape of a Golden Knuckle. Highlights included leftside 720 tail grab off the nose, tailbutter underflip revert, worm turn slide and a huge double cork 1080 out of a nose butter sent far down the landing.

“I’m kind of speechless honestly! Thanks to everybody who lets us come out here and do this. It’s been the best Knuckle Huck, yet” said Wolferman upon taking the Golden Knuckle trophy at X Games Aspen 2022. “Everybody crushed and these dudes all went so hard! I commend them all for coming out and sending it!”

Born and raised under the great big Midwestern sky of Montana, Wolferman is known for his slopestyle and street talent. Sunday’s gold medal is his career-first medal at an X Games (Knuckle Huck did not award silver or bronze medals in previous years).

Also rising to the podium, Alex Hall put his signature drive for innovation on full display in the jam session. Tricks like a switch hand drag slide late shifty, backslide one-footer to 360, backslide backward noseslide to Cab 360 and big spin nose and tail butter to Cab 360 and a low backward belly slide over the knuckle to late pretzel earned him the bronze medal.

And just like that, Hall made history as the first male winter sports athlete to take home medals in three contest events at the same X Games. Hall now owns 9 X Games medals (5 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze). The Park City local has also achieved the rare feat of earning X Games gold medals in four disciplines: Big Air, Slopestyle, Knuckle Huck, and the Real Ski video competition.

Men’s Ski SuperPipe: Monster Energy’s David Wise Soars to Bronze Medal Finish

Wrapping up the 25th edition of Winter X Games in style, the nighttime action culminated in the Men’s Ski SuperPipe final. The high-energy crowd celebrated a 35-minute jam session of progressive vertical freeski on hallowed ground: With its 22-feet high walls and 570-feet in overall length, the SuperPipe on Buttermilk Mountain is praised by competitors as the best of its kind on the circuit.

Setting the tone for an epic final event, hip-hop artist ASAP Ferg performed at the bottom of the SuperPipe. Then it was time for ten finalists to battle for the top spot. The field included riders from Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Out of ten riders, five had previously won X Games gold in the discipline – so the level of riding was bound to be off the charts!

The list of previous gold medalists on the roster also included David Wise from Reno, Nevada, who took the win in X Games SuperPipe four times (Aspen 2012-2014, Aspen 2018). Currently in peak shape for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Wise rose all the way to second place at the FIS World Cup at Mammoth before coming to Aspen.

Although dropping in as the oldest competitor at 31 years, the two-time Olympic gold medalist proved he still has the skills to rise to the podium. In his third run of the night, Wise put together a perfect routine. Dropping into the SuperPipe backwards, he landed a switch rightside 720, switch leftside double cork 1080 Japan, corked rightside 540 tailgrab, leftside double cork 1260 mute grab, and rightside double cork 1260 mute on the final wall for the bronze medal.

By earning bronze on Sunday night, Wise broke a record: Previously, no man older than 28 had earned a Ski SuperPipe medal at X Games. Known as a pioneer of freeski halfpipe riding, Wise has seen and won it all: His unparalleled track record includes two Olympic gold medals (2014 and 2018) as seven X Games medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). Wise will represent the United States in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

This wraps up a history-making edition of Winter X Games in Aspen! When all was said and done, the Monster Energy team took home an incredible 23 medals (5 Gold, 7 Silver, 11 Bronze) in the world’s biggest winter action sports showcase.

Thanks to all athletes, everyone who attended and all who watched X Games Aspen 2022. Also, thanks to the crew at ESPN and Buttermilk Mountain for putting on a world-class action sports showcase despite the adversities of the ongoing pandemic. X Games Aspen 2022 was televised globally in 192 countries and territories to more than 500 million homes.

X Games fans in the United States who missed the action at X Games Aspen 2022 can re-watch all live broadcasts on the official X Games YouTube channel. All highlights from X Games Aspen 2022 will be broadcast on ESPN in a two-piece anthology: X Games Aspen Anthology: Part 1 will air on Sunday, January 30, at 12 a.m. ET, followed by Part 2 on Monday, January 3, at 1 a.m. ET.

Visit here for exclusive content from X Games Aspen 2022 including photos, videos, and contest results as they happen. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at Buttermilk Mountain.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans.

NEW PODCAST ON 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP

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Yara Shahidi Talks About Studying Hip Hop At Harvard, Growing Up Around Prince & Taking A Time-Out From Social Media

Grammy Award winning artist Nas and radio personality Minya “Miss Info” Oh sit down with accomplished actor from Black-ish, activist and Nas’s cousin, Yara Shahidi.

Mass Appeal/Spotify Original podcast The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip Hop is a talk show that features lively conversations with a plethora of guests ranging from iconic rappers, producers, to today’s popular artists to explore the ways in which hip hop influenced society. Episode description below.

In a very candid conversation, Yara Shahidi recalls:

Her views on today’s Hip Hop and its impact during the last 50 years (4:01-05:55)
Being in Baby Keem’s music video and today’s current music scene (07:19- 08:50 )
Relationship with Prince growing up and her dad’s book (11:44- 13:03 )
Being related to Nas and her journey to Harvard (15:29- 18:30 )
How she started in Black-ish (22:15-24:30)

WHERE: Episodes available exclusively via Spotify HERE; embed below

WHEN: New episodes released weekly

WHY: The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip Hop is part of one of many digital activations that will be rolled out over the course of the next two years Mass Appeal’s #HipHop50 multi-tiered campaign. The cross-platform initiative will celebrate, acknowledge and honor 50 years of Hip Hop through unscripted series and features, music releases, podcasts, interactive programming and digital shorts by and about some of the foremost names in the genre.

Christina Wheeler Releases New Album

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CHRISTINA WHEELER ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM SONGS OF S + D, DUE OUT MARCH 25, 2022

Today, Berlin/Los Angeles-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, and multimedia artist, Christina Wheeler, announces her hypnotic and intimate new LP, Songs of S + D, due out March 25, 2022, along with thrilling single, “Asleep at the Wheel,” along with an official music video. After releasing an enchanting and intimate EP, That Was Then, This is Now in November 2021 that served as a prelude for what’s to come, Wheeler now introduces a deeper dive into vulnerability with her signature blend of soul and shoe-gaze (or “soul-gaze”) sound culminating in a raw, electro-acoustic peak into the human experience.

Christina Wheeler is widely known for her iconic performances with David Byrne from his tour throughout the U.S., Europe and South America in 1997 and 1998, which brought her to The Late Night Show with David Letterman, where she made her television debut with Byrne. In addition to her appearance with Byrne on PBS’ Sessions at West 54th, Wheeler has recorded and played with countless musicians like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Chaka Khan, Vernon Reid, and more.

As a solo artist, Wheeler manages to brilliantly merge the worlds of electronic and acoustic with analog and digital electronic processing. Picking up where That Was Then, This Is Now left off, Wheeler continues to peel back layers of her conscience on Songs of S + D. Through twelve tracks, Wheeler illustrates the multifaceted human experience with profound exploration of love, heartbreak, growth, grief, and the fragility of life and its cycle.

“Asleep at the Wheel” opens the record capturing Wheeler’s signature soul-gazer sound. Over sped-up sounds woven into New Orleans backbeats, a shifting blues progression cradles lyrics that swiftly puncture the surface. Wheeler’s soulful vocals kick in with, “So, I try to stand here awake / Solitary, flawed, and still / But the lure still tempts me / To close my eyes, and / Dream my dreams / Asleep at the Wheel…”

Throughout much of her work, Wheeler explores the porous, delicate lines between universal dichotomies such as good and evil, life and loss, and elation and devastation. Speaking about the single, Wheeler says the track, “reveals the lures of living a full-throttle life to the point of destruction and the challenge of choosing to step away for grounded clarity, only to fight the temptation to return to thrilling yet ultimately dangerous downward spirals.”

The LP distinctively asks what it might sound like to fuse the sounds that surrounded Wheeler in her childhood, from soul, R&B, funk, disco and shoe-gaze. The album’s recording process took place between Red Bull Studios in both Berlin and New York City, as well as Berlin’s Vox-Ton Studio. Wheeler expanded the record’s scope and quality with several collaborators including Melvin Gibbs, (electric bass) Marque Gilmore (drums, programmer) and Marika Hughes (cellist). Additionally, Joe McGinty and Kelvin Sholar added synths and synth bass lines, while Christian Prommer, Antonio Pulli, Simon Goff, Chris Tabron, and Evan Sutton engineered the recording. Veteran engineer Scotty Hard mixed the album, and Michael Fossenkemper mastered the digital version.

Describing the meaning behind her LP, Wheeler says, “It’s a deeply personal album long time in the making. Inspired by my experience of having lived through 9/11 in New York City and the subsequent attempt to negotiate the aftermath of that time once I moved to Berlin, I began to write a series of songs addressing the larger human experience of life, loss, joy, ecstasy, sadness, and the connecting, universal condition, framed through the context of vivid, intimate vignettes.

With a unique vocal, musical and technological ability, Wheeler ultimately aims to connect listeners through finding common ground in the collective lived human experience. Wheeler explains, “While technology continues to evolve, the human voice remains constant in the singing of songs. With this project, I hope to share modern music with the world that speaks to our universal experiences and connect us through the simple, evocative themes in the narrative and emotional content of my songs.”

Wheeler’s expansive career includes work as a soloist, band mate, featured artist, and even an immersive experience performer. As a soloist, Wheeler has composed and performed her own pieces for Free Rotation Festival and New York’s Experimental Intermedia, Issue Project Room, and Bang on a Can. Fact Magazine reported on her performance of one of her solo pieces called “Surrender to the Totality of Blackness,” which she presented at this year’s CTM Festival. Her journey also led her to collaborate on several band projects, including Wiremouth, Floating People, and BlowOut, in addition to her time with David Byrne.

Wrestling with existential questions and universal struggles matched with expertly crafted and unparalleled instrumentation, Christina Wheeler continues to blaze a path all her own. Songs of S + D is out March 25, 2022 and now available topre-save. The first single, “Asleep at the Wheel” is out everywhere now. Stay tuned for more from Christina Wheeler.

ABOUT CHRISTINA WHEELER:

Processing life-altering events isn’t always instant: Sometimes it can take years. For Christina Wheeler, the experience of having lived in New York City through 9/11 and its aftermath stayed with her. But it was only when she relocated to Berlin that she truly began to unpack it.

As a composer, vocalist, multi-instrumental electronic musician, and multimedia artist, Wheeler is always experimenting with music and form — and her latest work is no different. With her new album Songs of S+D, Wheeler has crafted a deeply vulnerable project that not only peels back the layers of her own personal experience but examines the universal emotions of life, loss, joy, ecstasy, and sadness through poignant storytelling.

Within Songs of S+D is a mélange of genres — an homage to her wide-ranging musical upbringing of soul R&B, funk, and disco. But with her work, the musician, songwriter, and composer adds her own flourishes, pairing shoegazer tones with funkier beats. The rich blend of the two became Wheeler’s own perfectly defined genre: “soulgazer” music.

Recording between New York and Berlin, Wheeler compiled what would become Songs of S+D a few years ago. But the pandemic stalled its release. During the COVID lockdown, Wheeler decided to start her own label and release the recordings herself.

Wheeler’s background blending the acoustic and electronic worlds together became the foundation for her latest effort. The result is a twist on electro-acoustic instrumentation, which she interpolates with analog and digital electronic processing to contemporize them. By creating these hybridized sounds, Songs of S+D emerges as a truly singular work, brimming with everything from the metal tines of the African kalimba to the strings of the autoharp.

Still, no matter how much Wheeler alchemizes modern technology on the 12-track album, it’s the humanity of her voice that carries the record home. Opening with New Orleans backbeats, Wheeler encapsulates the “soulgazer” sound, oscillating between living on the edge and choosing a life more grounded on “Asleep at The Wheel:” “So, I try to stand here awake/Solitary, flawed, and still/But the lure still tempts me/To close my eyes.” What follows is deep introspection on the push-and-pull of emotion. The raucous drum-flanked “Into the Sun” tackles the Icarus myth — a moment of incendiary joy at its peak — while the mid-tempo soul number “Shadowlands” meditates on burnout and the heartbreak experienced from not a person, but a city. “So Close to You” and “Some Boys” transition to actual love, but tackle the allure and danger of trying to love a toxic person. The QChord-flanked “Alone” explores the loneliness that can come after the ecstasy of carnal communion. Alternatively, “This Time” focuses on living in the moment when it comes to romance. “This is all the time we’ve got/Trickling away like grains of sand,” Wheeler sings with a wistful lilt.

Inspired by Ringo Starr’s “Octopus’ Garden” and Shakespeare’s Prospero sonnet fromThe Tempest, the psych-rock “In the Sea” tells a tale that reimagines a father and daughter’s fraught relationship that is transformed by a magical kingdom deep in the ocean. There’s a sweet sadness to Wheeler’s songs about death: “Where Did You Go?” turns the confusion and grief over where to find those who have passed into wonder. Rounding out the record is the album’s closer “My Lullaby,” which illustrates the ultimate connection and circularity in life and death: “Close your eyes/Rest your head/In this soft space/Now’s the time/To let yourself go/Let yourself go.”

But before she sharesSongs of S+D, Wheeler plans to release her six-song EPThat Was Then, This Is Now to introduce her latest era, tackling universal issues and existential questions that plague so many of us: separation and the human connection (“One” and “Open”); being present (“Never Know” and “Right Here, Right Now”); taking action to make a tangible change (“What Will You Do?” and “Calling You”). All recorded in one take with Wheeler playing all the instruments, designing the processing, and singing simultaneously, That Was Then, This Is Now features direct lyrics with no auto-tune and embraces the quirks of self-expression. Though it’s a prelude to Songs of S+D, the EP serves as an epilogue to what Wheeler envisions as a three-part body of work where the past refers to the future, the future refers to the past, and present contains all time.

Blending everything from processed vocals to the autoharp and the electric mbira to the theremin, Wheeler is an expert polymath who has had an expansive career in the music industry. She has performed onstage with David Byrne on tour throughout the U.S., Europe and South America. Additionally she has recorded and played with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Chaka Khan, Vernon Reid, John Cale, Jamie Lidell and more. Her work with David Byrne has led her to share the stage with him during several international tours, The Late Show with David Letterman, and PBS’s Sessions at West 54th Street. Additionally, Wheeler has also performed at New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Philharmonic.

The range of experiences on her rich, varied creative path have led her to where she is now — and propel her to where she’s headed next. Look out for the follow up to these recordings in her next song album, How Do We Get to Where We Want to Be?

THE BLACKHOUSE FOUNDATION 15th YEAR CELEBRATION

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THE BLACKHOUSE FOUNDATION WRAPS 2022 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING WITH A CELEBRATION OF 15 YEARS AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Reaffirms Commitment to Education by Introducing The International Screenwriter’s Lab

With festivities underway, The Blackhouse Foundation has curated dynamic conversations in celebration of the culture’s premiere thought leaders, with a lineup including Regina Hall, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Richard Lawson, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, industry executives across film, television, visual media and more!

The Blackhouse Foundation’s programming slate will culminate with a celebratory look back at the foundation’s 15 year history at The Sundance Film Festival, its evolution, and a look towards the future of Blackhouse. Executive Director Jenean Glover will moderate this discussion with Blackhouse Chairman and Co-Founder Brickson Diamond, Co-Founder and Board Member Carol Ann Shine, and Board Members Pauline Fischer, Datari Turner, and Dolly Turner. Register now via Crowdcast to attend!

As The Blackhouse Foundation steps into its 15th year, Blackhouse reaffirms its commitment to education and to creating opportunities for Black filmmakers domestically and internationally. The Blackhouse Foundation, in partnership with Pauline Fischer’s PMF Media Group and VentureLift Africa, recently introduced the International Scriptwriter’s Lab, a creative accelerator and fellowship program whose core mission is to support global, emerging storytellers of compelling film and television projects and help position the participants on a path to project launch. Focusing on Kenyan participants this year – the five Fellows of the inaugural cohort consist of screenwriters Damaris Irungu, Voline Ogutu, Carolyne Kemunto, Wanjiru Kairu and Grace Irungu – the goal is to create a bridge between African and Hollywood-based storytellers, especially African-American storytellers, and help position all participants for success through increased preparedness and connection and to create and nurture a pipeline of talented creative voices across the region.

Today’s Programming Schedule at The Blackhouse!

Building Inclusive Content at Lionsgate

Date: Sunday, 1/23

Time: 1pm – 2pm MT

The Blackhouse Foundation is proud to present a fireside chat with Lionsgate on the future of inclusive content. Join their President of Motion Picture Group, Nathan Kahane, and Head of Inclusive Content, Kamala Avila-Salmon, for an intimate conversation with Blackhouse CEO, Brickson Diamond, on how this leading film studio is building an intentional and integrated roadmap for a more diverse and inclusive film slate for years to come.

Onyx Collective Presents: Summer of Soul, A Necessary Story

Date: Sunday, 1/23

Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm MT

Join Summer of Soul Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Onyx Collective’s President Tara Duncan for an intimate conversation about Black erasure and getting history right. Moderated by The Atlantic’s Hannah Giorgis, they will reflect on the importance of building transformative narratives and curating these untold stories that have the power to change the world.

Celebrating 15 Years of the Blackhouse at Sundance

Date: Sunday, 1/23

Time: 4pm – 5pm MT

The Blackhouse Foundation remains a linchpin for culture on a global scale through engagements at Sundance and beyond. But how did we get here? Join the foundation’s leadership as they recap their illustrious 15-year evolution.

For 2022, The Blackhouse Foundation proudly welcomes Meta back as Presenting Sponsor. Onyx Collective joins The Blackhouse Foundation as Select Sponsor, while Lionsgate and Participant contribute as Supporting Sponsors and ICM Partners joins as Sponsor.

The Blackhouse Foundation continues to champion and support leading black writers, directors, producers, crew, and talent throughout film, television, digital media, and beyond with an unshakable platform.

ABOUT THE BLACKHOUSE FOUNDATION:

The Blackhouse Foundation works to expand opportunities for Black content creators by providing pathways to opportunities within film, television, digital, and emerging platforms. Blackhouse provides opportunities for minority creatives to learn about the financial production, marketing, and distribution resources that will raise the profile of their content, while also providing participants with a nucleus for continuing support, community, and education.

DEADPOOL BAD BLOOD RETURNS TO COMIC SHOPS

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Deadpool’s hit graphic novel is serialized in comics form this April!

In 2017, superstar Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld teamed up with writers Chris Sims and Chad Bowers to tell an all-new saga starring his greatest creation in Deadpool’s first-ever original graphic novel, DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD! Now, fans can relive this smash hit in serialized comics format when it returns to comic shops this April. With appearances by his greatest partners and showdowns against his most dangerous enemies, DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD is a definitive Deadpool epic told in his co-creator’s iconic artstyle! The new printings will also come complete with brand-new cover artwork by Liefeld that showcase Deadpool in all his glory.

Wade Wilson has been shooting, stabbing and otherwise annoying people for a long time. He’s made a lot of enemies. But one he just can’t quite place is the brutal Thumper, who keeps showing up out of the blue to pound him into jelly. What is Deadpool’s past connection to this beefy face masher? Wade has as much of a clue as you do! So he decides to call in some help from an old friend: Domino! Can he and Domino get to the bottom of things before Deadpool meets his maker again? Answers might lay in a secret mission from years ago that brought Deadpool and X-Force together.

“I don’t know which call was better, the one in 2017 where Marvel told me that DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD was the #1 graphic novel for the month or the call last month when Marvel told me they wanted to break the 100 pages up into a miniseries for audiences that may have missed the first time around!” Liefeld said. “Deadpool! Cable! X-Force! Kane and the debut of Thumper! This is my favorite work, a personal work , and I’m so thrilled we are releasing it in an all new format! Get your hands on it this April!!!”

Pick up DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD #1 and #2 when they hit stands in April!

Click here for more info.

DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD #1

Written by ROB LIEFELD, CHRIS SIMS & CHAD BOWERS

Art and Cover by ROB LIEFELD

On Sale 4/6

DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD #2

Written by ROB LIEFELD, CHRIS SIMS & CHAD BOWERS

Art and Cover by ROB LIEFELD

On Sale 4/20

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

COUNT TO TEN PODCAST RELEASE

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‘COUNT TO TEN’ PODCAST WITH CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BIPOC AND QUEER ARTIST, INFLUENCER, AND CONTENT CREATOR BRI HALL LAUNCHES NEW EPISODE: RACE & ROYALTY WITH BRITTANY LACKEY & GERMANI MANNING OF BLACK GIRL BRAVADO

“Some proclaim the title of social media influencer just because they have a lot of followers, but [Bri Hall] is using her platform for good to reach her 1 million followers around the world.” — START YOUR DAY, BLACK NEWS CHANNEL

“[Count to Ten] aims to unpack appearance-based discrimination and more… [Bri Hall] wants the podcast to elevate people’s various lived experiences with the hope of also hitting home with those who haven’t lived them.” — WWD

Multi-hyphenate BIPOC and queer artist / influencer Bri Hall launches episode 2 of her new weekly podcast ‘Count to Ten’ presented by RedCircle. Available across all streaming platforms now, the new episode entitled Race & Royalty features Brittany Lackey and Germani Manning of Black Girl Bravado. Oftentimes when we think of a “post racial society,” we hear about minorities who have “made it.” Minorities who exist in the top 1% of society as the beacon of hope. Sometimes this is used to gaslight experiences with race by saying, “that was not racist, it was classist,” when it can be one, the other, or both. Today’s episode is all about exploring intersectionality of race, class, and power. Tune in now, here.

Raised in the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) and now based in Los Angeles, Hall has achieved over 1.1 million followers across social media plus 50 million views and counting on YouTube as a content creator. Through her various work, including partnerships with Fenty Beauty, Calvin Klein, Clinique, Facebook, Google, etc, and her music project under the moniker La Hara, the rising thought leader has garnered positive praise from ABC, Allure, BET, Black News Channel, Bustle, Cheddar, Elite Daily, Harper’s BAZAAR, ESSENCE, NBC, NYLON, PopSugar, Refinery29, Washington Post, WWD, among several others. Utilizing her dedicated fanbase and established platform, Hall hopes to open an honest dialogue around delicate and indispensable topics such as race/racism, feminism, sexuality, intersectionality, the model minority, DACA/Dreamers, invisible disabilities, mental health, and more.

‘Count to Ten’ is a statement of defiance against the notion of “staying calm”—something individuals in marginalized groups are told to undermine their experiences when facing complex issues around social and racial injustices, gender or identity inequality, mental health, and more. Taking ownership of the phrase “count to ten,” the podcast is Bri Hall’s way of breaking that silence and creating a safe, educational yet entertaining space where listeners can feel seen and heard. Throughout the podcast, Hall will tap a special guest to provide their unique insight and expertise on select themes. Upcoming guests in the first season include Keziah Dhamma (aka Swirly Curly), Brittany Lackey and Germani Manning (Black Bravado), Bukola Odeosun, Darian Harvin, Aliza Kelly, Kristopher Head, Charlotte Nguyen, Helya Mohammadian (Slick Chicks) and Marta Elena Cortez-Neaval (Abilitee), MANNYWELLZ, and Jen Winston (The Greedy Bisexual).

For Bri Hall, every project is an opportunity to explore new avenues to push boundaries and showcase different sides of her as an ever-evolving creator and trendmaker. On the ‘Count to Ten’ podcast launch, she states, “I’m excited to share a huge part of myself that supporters don’t always get to see from an Instagram photo or a makeup tutorial. Between filming for videos and creating content, I’m deeply engaged in conversations with colleagues, friends, and family about social justice, personal struggles, and marginalized identity. It feels like such an organic step to use my platform to further delve into these stories on a larger scale. I hope that people will learn more about marginalized identities and themselves through this podcast. Oftentimes, the gap between empathy and apathy is a lack of understanding and a fear of asking the wrong questions. By having a first person, fly-on-the-wall invitation into these conversations, I hope a deep feeling of connection between diverse communities will emerge for my fans and new listeners.”

‘Count to Ten’ episodes:

January 18th — Do I Seem Relaxed with Keziah Dhamma (Swirly Curly)
January 25th — Race & Royalty with Brittany Lackey & Germani Manning of Black Girl Bravado
February 1st — Being First Gen with Bukola Odeosun
February 8th — Do the Write Thing with Darian Harvin
February 15th — Hex and the City with Aliza Kelly
February 22nd — The Truth of Invisible Disabilities with Kris Head
March 1st — Excluded? The Model Minority Myth with Charlotte Nguyên
March 8th — Ableism in Fashion with Helya Mohammadian (Slick Chicks) and Marta Elena Cortez-Neaval (Abilitee)
March 15th — Show Dates: How DACA has Impacted Artists with MANNYWELLZ
March 22nd — The Greedy Bisexual with Jen Winston

About Bri Hall:

One of the brightest cultural leaders of her generation, Bri Hall embodies the kind of visionary creativity that defies all boundaries and transforms the way we view the world around us. With a global reach that now includes over 1.1 million followers across all platforms, the 27-year-old artist, social-media creator, and motivational speaker has continually turned her creative passions into a conduit for community-building and increased awareness of such crucial issues as social justice and mental health—all while channeling the singular joy of unbridled self-expression.

A first-generation American whose mother immigrated from Jamaica, Hall was born in New York but moved to Maryland at the age of five. As a young child she started drawing portraits, discovering an affinity for art that she partly attributes to an urge to connect with her absent biological father (a stained-glass artist). A lifelong creative polymath, Hall took up poetry in third grade, and within just two years saw one of her pieces published in a national poetry journal. Later on, she earned the distinction of being one of two students in the entire state to be accepted into a highly competitive visual and performing artists middle school, which helped to refine her raw talents and self-taught skills. Throughout her childhood, Hall further broadened her artistic horizons by learning to play clarinet in elementary school and later taking up piano while enrolled in a prestigious science and technology program in high school. During her junior year, she began exploring social media by kicking off a weekly Facebook feature in which she created time-lapse videos documenting her work as she drew or painted a portrait based on subject requests submitted by her followers. The feature was an instant hit, and in 2011 Hall launched a YouTube channel to showcase her increasingly in-demand speed portraits.

While studying animation and game design at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Hall continued posting art videos and began appearing on camera—a turn of events that soon led to the launch of Smartista Beauty, a separate YouTube channel that served as a hub for the hair and beauty tutorials her viewers immediately clamored for. With her very first Smartista Beauty post amassing a staggering number of views, Hall quickly emerged as a beauty guru backed by an immensely devoted following (as well as support from global brands like Calvin Klein and Google). Not only known for the awe-inspiring ingenuity behind her wildly popular tutorials, she gained widespread recognition for the vulnerability and candor of her content, often using her videos as a sounding board for such complex and intensely personal topics as self-love and Black feminism. As more and more viewers tuned in for Hall’s insights into living a more fulfilled and empowered life, she took the stage for a TEDx Talk in 2018 and detailed her journey in following her creative dreams to incredible success.

In all of her endeavors, Hall merges her limitless imagination with a profound sense of purpose. In 2019, for instance, she made her musical debut under the name La Hara, an R&B project whose first round of singles included “Hereafter”—a quietly powerful track she wrote after the death of a close friend, then released during National Suicide Prevention Month in order to help others struggling with grief. More recently, Hall has aligned her longtime mission of increasing representation in media with her growing fascination with cosplay, tapping into her extensive makeup savvy and morphing into a series of iconic characters rarely performed by Black artists and creators.

In her commitment to endlessly magnifying the impact of her platform, Hall is now set to launch a weekly podcast called ‘Count to Ten.’ Presented by RedCircle, the show will include intimate and unfiltered conversations with guests whose personal experience speaks to the inequities affecting marginalized populations all around the world. To that end, the first season of ‘Count to Ten’ finds Hall and her guests discussing everything from the model minority myth and the intersectionality of race and class to ableism in fashion and the politics of natural hair. Inspired by the heart-to-heart talks she engages in on a daily basis—and the moment of re-centering pause many people with intersectional identities must frequently take in order to coexist in a variety of spaces—’Count to Ten’ ultimately reflects the driving force behind all of Hall’s output: a one-of-a-kind gift for taking the ordinary stuff of everyday life (a conversation, a bare face, a blank page), then introducing the extraordinary to expand our sense of possibility and reshape the way we live, work, and care for each other.